ELECTION PROFILE: Joseph Grimes: SMD 2

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Joe Grimes thinks anytime is a good time to get involved in city government. He considered his running in the 2009 mayoral race a foot in the door.

“Yeah, I didn’t get the seat — I get that much,” Grimes said. “I don’t necessarily think I lost because I gained so much out of the deal.”

He moved on to take the vice chairmanship for the planning commission and serves as Keep San Angelo Beautiful president. Relationships built and board commissions resulting from his mayor candidacy made the race a great experience, Grimes said.

“For the past couple years I’ve been on the front lines, I’ve been in the trenches,” Grimes said. “I’ve been helping build ordinances to help the city grow responsibly.”

San Angelo has done nothing but grow for the last 12 years, Grimes said. His goal is to make sure the direction of the planning commission is the direction of the people.

“I am completely in the know with what is going on — my head is in the game,” he said.

He is in tune with the Realtors Association, Homeowners Association, City Council and city staff, Grimes said.

“More importantly, I am very in tune with what the citizens are telling us,” he said.

The City Council needs someone who not only is going to worry about issues, but listen to what the people say, James Pettit said.

“I want someone who knows what’s going on,” he said. “They have to have a great track record as far as business, family and the community.

“Joe has done so many things getting ready for this moment.”

Pettit and Grimes each owned lawn companies a few years ago. The two have grown in business together, Pettit said.

“His business ethics honestly are as good as they get,” he said, “It goes back to his military background: He is precise, he wants to be on time and does things the safest way possible.”

Fellow entrepreneur Shannon Thompson said Grimes is top shelf in business and always upfront.

“He’s dealt with a lot of customers,” he said. “That gives him a lot of qualities to deal with people and do what’s best and keep everyone happy.”

Grimes knows how to take leadership and get things done, Thompson said. His honesty draws people to him, he said.

“Whether you like it or not, you know what he’s doing,” Thompson said.

Grimes has children ranging from elementary to high school.

He said he spends a lot of time around teachers, staff and parents.

“The things I hear people talk about, the wish list they’ve got — I hear it all, Grimes said. “And they are the young families being raised and growing up in District 2.”

Managing five children of his own is problem solving at a high level, Grimes said.

“If you have brothers, sisters or children, that’s just one thing you get,” he said.

“I don’t know where it all came from, I’m just blessed. I’ll take that to City Council, too.”